Best for affordability: Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota looks like the easiest place here to live with less financial drag. It comes out ahead on rent burden and rent.
Demand-Backed Comparison
Compare Fargo vs Madison on cost, climate, safety, and daily life
People have logged this comparison 12 times on WhyThere. The cards open full city pages. The charts and matrix below are the fast side-by-side read on housing, climate, walkability, safety, schools, parks, and day-to-day tradeoffs.
FargoMadison
What Stands Out
A quick read on this comparison
Deterministic summaries based on the data in view.
Biggest tradeoff: Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota is the sharpest split in this comparison: strong on affordability, weaker on safety.
Potential dealbreaker: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin needs a closer look before you get too attached, especially on tax burden.
Comparison Matrix
| City | ||
|---|---|---|
| Route | ||
| General Info | ||
| Population | 118,523 | 280,305 |
| Elevation | 906 ft(276 m) | 876 ft(267 m) |
| Housing & Wealth | ||
| Median Home | $310,206 | $412,118 |
| Median Rent | $1,089 | $1,624 |
| Median Income | $64,432 | $74,895 |
| Rent Burden | 20% | 26% |
| Climate & Risks | ||
| Sunny Days | 292 days/yr | 283 days/yr |
| Avg. High | 54°F | 58°F |
| Comfort Score | 26/100Challenging | 42/100Challenging |
| Temp Swing | 61°F | 53°F |
| Annual Rainfall | 23"(58 cm) | 33"(84 cm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 12"(30 cm) | 15"(38 cm) |
| Air Quality | AQI 38 (Avg)4 days > 100 | AQI 39 (Avg)0 days > 100 |
| Infrastructure & Lifestyle | ||
| Walk Score | 65 | 67 |
| Transit Score | 43 | 64 |
| Safety Score | 60 / 100 | 72 / 100 |
| School Rating | 6/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Internet Access | Fiber: 13%Cable: 99% | Fiber: 44%Cable: 95% |
| Demographics | ||
| Median Age | 31.9 years | 31.6 years |
| College Educated | 42% | 59% |
| Remote Workers | 7% | 15% |
| Nature Access | ||
| Local Nature & Reserves | Finding... | Finding... |
| Scouting & Local Help | ||
Plan a first lookWays to plan a first visit or connect with a relevant local partner. | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Fargo | Featured Local Partner ADYour logo Partner spot available For organizations that can help someone land in Madison |
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